Polymer in Diapers

DISSECTING A DIAPER

After seeing a cool experiment / trick on a Science Bob video, we here at Umamah Learning Academy were very keen on finding a diaper. (clean one ofcourse!)

I called my friends with lil ones asking if I could borrow a few diapers in the name of science. Haha... I soon got a few thanks to my generous friends... :):):):):)

Lil Muallim, surprised Abi by doing the experiment exactly as shown in the video. That was sure FUN!!!!

Next up we turned into an experiment of our very own......as the Lil Muallims wanted to know.....How much could the polymers from one diaper absorb?

STEP 1

Once we had the diaper we dissected and shook out all the polymer that we could from it, and collected it in a zipper bag. 

OOps forgot to take a picture of that part ! the polymers look like course powder or SALYT as my Lil Maullim's described it. They wanted to know how much water could they absorb? So we hopped on to step 2.

STEP 2

We put all the polymer from the diaper in a glass and poured some water. In less than a minute all the water was absorbed by the polymers. We kept on pouring water bit by bit till the polymers absorbed and absorbed and fluffed up to almost to the top of the glass.

STEP 3

To prove that all the water had been absorbed we turned the glass upside down, and nothing dropped out of it! We got a lot of aahh's and ooo's on this one.. They found it to be quite unbelievable. Subhanallah!

STEP 4

 We took out the soaked polymers onto a plate and touched and felt them in the hands. They felt like tiny balls of jelly, cold yet not wet on touch! Here's what the fluffed up polymer looked like.

STEP 5

We put the already fluffed up polymers in a big jar. My Lil Muallim's were quite surprised when the when they fluffed up to the top of the jar. At this point the polymer did start feeling wet unlike the stage when they were taken out on the plate! I guess this would be the amount when you scream out.... DIAPER LEAK!!! Hahaahaa!

Next up CREATING A LEAKING DIAPER.......stay tuned!